如必要,需要手术治疗精索静脉曲张。是否手术治疗取决于患者年龄以及对患者潜在或现有生育能力的影响。
精索静脉曲张修复的治疗选择
目前开展的几项技术:开放性手术、腹腔镜手术和经皮静脉介入栓塞(由介入放射科医生操作)。[37]French DB, Desai NR, Agarwal A. Varicocele repair: does it still have a role in infertility treatment? Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2008;20:269-274.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18460942?tool=bestpractice.com[38]Kroese AC, de Lange NM, Collins J, et al. Surgery or embolization for varicoceles in subfertile men. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(10):CD000479.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000479.pub5/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23076888?tool=bestpractice.com[39]Çayan S, Shavakhabov S, Kadioğlu A. Treatment of palpable varicocele in infertile men: a meta-analysis to define the best technique. J Androl. 2009;30:33-40.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2164/jandrol.108.005967/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18772487?tool=bestpractice.com[40]Al-Said S, Al-Naimi A, Al-Ansari A, Y, et al. Varicocelectomy for male infertility: a comparative study of open, laparoscopic and microsurgical approaches. J Urol. 2008;180:266-270.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18499176?tool=bestpractice.com[41]Borruto FA, Impellizzeri P, Antonuccio P, et al. Laparoscopic vs open varicocelectomy in children and adolescents: review of the recent literature and meta-analysis. J Pediatr Surg. 2010;45:2464-2469.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21129568?tool=bestpractice.com精索静脉曲张的治疗可完全治愈90%的精索静脉曲张。[25]Jarow JP, Sharlip ID, Belker AM, et al. Best practice policies for male infertility. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11956464?tool=bestpractice.com大部分的手术方法是通过腹股沟或腹股沟下切口入路。术中使用小型放大镜或手术显微镜以最大限度地保存淋巴管和动脉,并且将鞘膜积液和睾丸损伤的风险降到最低。[25]Jarow JP, Sharlip ID, Belker AM, et al. Best practice policies for male infertility. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11956464?tool=bestpractice.com经皮静脉介入栓塞也可以使用并可减少术后疼痛;因此,它更适用于不希望进行切口手术的青少年。手术技术的选择受手术经验的影响。另外,也与患者的手术史有关。如果患者之前做过腹股沟区手术,腹股沟下的显微手术或许是确保睾丸动脉完整保存的最佳方法(来避免睾丸萎缩)。[40]Al-Said S, Al-Naimi A, Al-Ansari A, Y, et al. Varicocelectomy for male infertility: a comparative study of open, laparoscopic and microsurgical approaches. J Urol. 2008;180:266-270.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18499176?tool=bestpractice.com一项meta分析结果显示显微外科结扎手术相比经皮或开放的非显微手术方法在复发率和并发症方面具有小但确实绝对的优势。[42]Ding H, Tian J, Du W, et al. Open non-microsurgical, laparoscopic or open microsurgical varicocelectomy for male infertility: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BJU Int. 2012;110:1536-1542.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22642226?tool=bestpractice.com大多数泌尿科医生目前在手术显微镜的辅助下采用腹股沟或腹股沟管下方式进行治疗。
精索静脉曲张的青少年
对于有亚临床型或1度精索静脉曲张的青少年,不需要治疗,并且应告知患者或其父母安慰。定期检查观察最适于睾丸对称(或双侧睾丸大小相差10%以下)或者精索静脉曲张(II度或III度)的患者。精索静脉曲张的分级并不是需要手术治疗的指征。[1]Nguyen HT. Hernia, hydroceles, testicular torsion, and varicocele. In: Docimo SG, Canning DA, Khoury AE, eds. Clinical pediatric urology. London, UK: Informa Healthcare; 2007.此外,目前没有资料显示青少年精索静脉曲张是进展性的。这个年龄段患者的主要手术适应证就是睾丸生长停滞。检查者必须在每年的查体中追踪睾丸的大小。一项研究结果显示,在表现为II度或III度精索静脉曲张且睾丸对称的男孩中,大约有25%的人最终会进展为睾丸生长停滞。[43]Thomas JC, Elder JS. Testicular growth arrest and adolescent varicocele: does varicocele size make a difference? J Urol. 2002;168:1689-1691.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12352335?tool=bestpractice.com必须告知青少年其未来出现生育问题的可能。应该认识到从青少年获得精液样本从而得到测量基线是很困难的。
手术治疗青少年精索静脉曲张的最被普遍接受的指征是受累睾丸与正常睾丸体积相差>2 cm^3或20%,手术治疗的目标是允许同侧睾丸追赶生长并且有可能改善睾丸整体健康。患者接受手术后受累睾丸有50%~80%的机会能够追赶生长。[44]Li F, Chiba K, Yamaguchi K, et al. Effect of varicocelectomy on testicular volume in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. Urology. 2012;79:1340-1345.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22516359?tool=bestpractice.com这可能需要6个月的时间。
此外,尽管只有一小部分患者有明显疼痛,纠正精索静脉曲张对缓解症状有较高的缓解率。[1]Nguyen HT. Hernia, hydroceles, testicular torsion, and varicocele. In: Docimo SG, Canning DA, Khoury AE, eds. Clinical pediatric urology. London, UK: Informa Healthcare; 2007.
精索静脉曲张的成年人
对亚临床型或1度精索静脉曲张进行治疗是不必要的,但如果对影响生育有顾虑,可做精液分析。精索静脉曲张可触及但无临床症状并且精液检查正常的成年男性可以每1~2年进行定期精液分析来观察。[25]Jarow JP, Sharlip ID, Belker AM, et al. Best practice policies for male infertility. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11956464?tool=bestpractice.com[26]American Urological Association; American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Report on varicocele and infertility. April 2001. http://www.auanet.org (last accessed 25 October 2016).http://www.auanet.org/common/pdf/education/clinical-guidance/Varicocele-Archive.pdf当出现精子异常时,应给予精索静脉曲张修复术。[25]Jarow JP, Sharlip ID, Belker AM, et al. Best practice policies for male infertility. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11956464?tool=bestpractice.com[26]American Urological Association; American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Report on varicocele and infertility. April 2001. http://www.auanet.org (last accessed 25 October 2016).http://www.auanet.org/common/pdf/education/clinical-guidance/Varicocele-Archive.pdf过去,只有当女性伴侣出现可自然受孕的可治疗性不育时才建议进行精索静脉曲张修复术;然而,现在一些患者也可以接受修复术,即使夫妇因可能改善妊娠和活产儿结局而计划使用辅助生殖技术。[45]Esteves SC, Roque M, Agarwal A. Outcome of assisted reproductive technology in men with treated and untreated varicocele: systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian J Androl. 2016;18:254-258.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4770495/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26510504?tool=bestpractice.com一项评价开放手术治疗精索静脉曲张的研究结果表明,超过60%的男性精液参数改善,并且在试图怀孕的夫妻中有40%的妊娠率。[10]Dubin L, Amelar RD. Etiologic factors in 1294 consecutive cases of male infertility. Fertil Steril. 1971;22:469-474.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4398669?tool=bestpractice.com[39]Çayan S, Shavakhabov S, Kadioğlu A. Treatment of palpable varicocele in infertile men: a meta-analysis to define the best technique. J Androl. 2009;30:33-40.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2164/jandrol.108.005967/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18772487?tool=bestpractice.com[46]Schlesinger MH, Wilets IF, Nagler HM. Treatment outcome after varicocelectomy. A critical analysis. Urol Clin North Am. 1994;21:517-529.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8059505?tool=bestpractice.com然而精索静脉曲张结扎手术是有争议的,一项严格排除亚临床型精索静脉曲张和精液参数正常男性的meta分析结果显示,手术改善了精索静脉曲张和精液参数异常患者的精液参数。男性患有精索静脉曲张的夫妻妊娠率也有所提高。[3]Evers JL, Collins JA. Assessment of efficacy of varicocele repair for male subfertility: a systematic review. Lancet. 2003;361:1849-1852.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12788571?tool=bestpractice.com[38]Kroese AC, de Lange NM, Collins J, et al. Surgery or embolization for varicoceles in subfertile men. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(10):CD000479.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000479.pub5/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23076888?tool=bestpractice.com[47]Marmar JL, Agarwal A, Prabakaran S, et al. Reassessing the value of varicocelectomy as a treatment for male subfertility with a new meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2007;88:639-648.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17434508?tool=bestpractice.com[48]Agarwal A, Deepinder F, Cocuzza M, et al. Efficacy of varicocelectomy in improving semen parameters: new meta-analytical approach. Urology. 2007;70:532-538.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17905111?tool=bestpractice.com有限的数据表明栓塞治疗与手术结扎同样有效。此外,尽管只有一小部分患者有明显疼痛,纠正精索静脉曲张对缓解症状有较高的缓解率。[1]Nguyen HT. Hernia, hydroceles, testicular torsion, and varicocele. In: Docimo SG, Canning DA, Khoury AE, eds. Clinical pediatric urology. London, UK: Informa Healthcare; 2007.尽管精索静脉曲张结扎后睾酮水平通常会升高,[49]Kumar A, Garg M, Goel A. Re: Hsiao et al.: varicocelectomy is associated with increases in serum testosterone independent of clinical grade (Urology 2013;81:1213-1218). Urology. 2013;82:748-749.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23987175?tool=bestpractice.com但精索静脉曲张未被视为性腺机能减退的常见原因。因此,若旨在提高睾酮水平,那么应与患者充分沟通后再决定是否治疗。